wfn.org | Churches in Puerto Rico Rally to Provide Hurricane Relief

[PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org]

27-September-1996 
 
 
 
 
96377        Churches in Puerto Rico Rally to Provide 
                         Hurricane Relief 
 
                          by Alexa Smith 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has sent $20,000 in One 
Great Hour of Sharing monies to rain-drenched Puerto Rico in the aftermath 
of one of the deadliest hurricanes in recent memory. 
 
     Two weeks after Hurricane Hortense bashed Puerto Rico's southwest 
coast, islanders are still cleaning up from the 80 mph winds and near 
record rainfall that left more than 20 people dead while destroying or 
damaging more than 18,500 homes and innumerable motor vehicles. 
 
     "The situation has been very difficult the last two weeks," Synod of 
Puerto Rico executive the Rev. Harry F. Del Valle told the Presbyterian 
News Service from the synod's office in Mayag�ez, on the island's west 
coast.  "This storm caused damage to churches, to members, to the community 
as a whole." 
 
     More than 20 inches of rain swamped the island, causing rivers to 
overflow and creating mudslides that destroyed houses and blocked roads -- 
isolating some rural mountain towns and raising havoc in more densely 
populated urban areas. 
 
     Though access to some parts of Puerto Rico is not yet possible, Del 
Valle speculated that at least two small Presbyterian missions -- Villa 
Hugo and Toa Alta -- may be ruined.  A community center that housed a 
Presbyterian new church development in Mayag�ez has a collapsed roof, while 
several churches and manses -- and countless members' homes -- took on 
water. 
 
     "We are almost in the direction to begin again," the Rev. Juan 
Perez-Alda of the 500-member Presbyterian Church in Bayam¢n near San Juan, 
told the Presbyterian News Service, after days of clean-up at the church 
and manse and in the city.  "We lost one of the organs, the hymnbooks, the 
sanctuary's carpeting and flooring. ... 
 
     "But the manse where I live had 36 inches of water.  We were able to 
save very few things," said Perez, whose one-floor residence has now been 
disinfected and is habitable.  "A lot of memories went this time.  A lot of 
pictures ... all the notes of my messages for the last 15 years.  It all 
went." 
 
     Perez -- a newly elected member of the General Assembly Council who 
missed his first meeting of the Council because of the hurricane -- said 
that about 16 members of his congregation lost almost everything as well. 
"What was different about this storm ... was the amount of water. 
 
     "We've had a lot of wind before, through all the other [hurricanes]. 
But this time," Perez said. "The rain was completely out of control." 
 
     The president of the synod's Emergency Committee, the Rev. Francisco 
Vel zquez, said damage estimates are still coming in from Presbyterians in 
the northwest and southwest sections of the island.  
 He said committees of the island's three presbyteries are trying to 
interview people affected by the storm, beginning with church members. 
 
     "The eye of the hurricane passed right over us," said Vel zquez, who 
lives in Cabo Rojo on Puerto Rico's southwest tip but whose cement home 
suffered little damage.  "But it just blew the wooden houses [away].  There 
are just wooden floors remaining there.  No roof.  Nothing whatsoever," he 
told the Presbyterian News Service, describing damage to the southwest part 
of the island, where the storm landed. 
 
     "This is a hurricane that betrays our eyes," he said, noting that to 
the casual observer the community looks like clean-up is complete and life 
is back to normal. "But once you get higher up into the mountains, you 
start seeing the damage." 
 
     Perez said members of his congregation immediately formed clean-up 
crews that moved house to house helping other church members and other 
residents of Bayam¢n get back on their feet -- bringing thanks from the 
mayor.  "The Sunday after the hurricane, the church was packed," he said, 
describing all three of the congregation's services.  "And every one of the 
families [who suffered damage] were at a worship service that day." 
 
     Perez said the Bayam¢n church raised $5,000 for flood relief.  The 
church has begun replacing stoves, refrigerators and mattresses for 
families in metropolitan San Juan who had extensive losses. 
 
     Stan Hankins of Presbyterian World Service said a separate appeal has 
not yet been issued by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  Church World 
Service -- the relief arm of the National Council of Churches in New York 
City -- has issued a $30,000 appeal. 

------------
For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 

--